U.S. patent application number 11/044590 was filed with the patent office on 2006-07-27 for receiver monitoring and alert system.
Invention is credited to Fabian F. Morgan.
Application Number | 20060164926 11/044590 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36696603 |
Filed Date | 2006-07-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060164926 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Morgan; Fabian F. |
July 27, 2006 |
Receiver monitoring and alert system
Abstract
A method and system are provided in which a user is enabled to
create a preferred playlist of the user's favorite songs. An input
device allows the user to add and/or delete songs from this
preferred playlist. In an exemplary embodiment, songs playing on
several radio stations are monitored and when a song from the
user's favorites list begins to play on a station other than the
station to which the user is currently tuned, an audio and/or
visual signal is provided to alert the user, and the user may
change stations manually or tune to the new station
automatically.
Inventors: |
Morgan; Fabian F.; (Austin,
TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
IBM CORPORATION (RVW)
C/O ROBERT V. WILDER, ATTORNEY AT LAW
4235 KINGSBURG DRIVE
ROUND ROCK
TX
78681
US
|
Family ID: |
36696603 |
Appl. No.: |
11/044590 |
Filed: |
January 27, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
369/6 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04H 40/18 20130101;
H04H 60/65 20130101; H04H 60/37 20130101; H04H 60/58 20130101; H04H
60/46 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
369/006 |
International
Class: |
H04B 1/20 20060101
H04B001/20 |
Claims
1. A method for processing a plurality of digital data streams,
said digital data streams being derived from transmissions received
from a like plurality of radio stations, said method comprising:
receiving said digital data streams by a processing circuit;
determining when one or more of said digital data streams contains
a predetermined data sequence, said predetermined data sequence
being representative of the playing of a particular song on one of
said radio stations; and producing an alert signal upon said
determining, said alert signal being operable to provide at least
one perceptible indicium to a user that said predetermined song is
being received by said receiver.
2. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said predetermined
data sequence is representative of a title of said song.
3. The method as set forth in claim 2 wherein said predetermined
data sequence is contained within a header segment of a song
file.
4. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said at least one
perceptible indicium is a visually perceptible indicium.
5. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said at least one
perceptible indicium is an audibly perceptible indicium.
6. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said at least one
perceptible indicium includes a visually perceptible indicium.
7. The method as set forth in claim 1 and further including
producing an indication of a particular one of said radio stations
from which said predetermined song is being received.
8. The method as set forth in claim 1 and further including
enabling a switching from a currently listened to radio station to
said particular one of said radio stations from which said
predetermined song is being received.
9. The method as set forth in claim 1 and further including:
enabling a user to create a playlist of said user's favorite songs;
and displaying said playlist on a display device.
10. A storage medium, said storage medium being selectively coupled
to processing circuitry, said storage medium containing indicia
readable by said processing circuitry for providing program signals
to control processing a plurality of digital data streams, said
digital data streams being derived from transmissions received from
a like plurality of radio stations, said program signals being
effective for: receiving said digital data streams by a processing
circuit; determining when one or more of said digital data streams
contains a predetermined data sequence, said predetermined data
sequence being representative of the playing of a particular song
on one of said radio stations; and producing an alert signal upon
said determining, said alert signal being operable to provide at
least one perceptible indicium to a user that said predetermined
song is being received by said receiver.
11. The medium as set forth in claim 10 wherein said predetermined
data sequence is representative of a title of said song.
12. The medium as set forth in claim 11 wherein said predetermined
data sequence is contained within a header segment of a song
file.
13. The medium as set forth in claim 10 wherein said at least one
perceptible indicium is a visually perceptible indicium.
14. The medium as set forth in claim 10 wherein said at least one
perceptible indicium is an audibly perceptible indicium.
15. The medium as set forth in claim 14 wherein said at least one
perceptible indicium includes both visually perceptible and audibly
perceptible indicia.
16. The medium as set forth in claim 10 wherein said program
signals are further operable for producing an indication of a
particular one of said radio stations from which said predetermined
song is being received.
17. The medium as set forth in claim 10 wherein said program
signals are further operable for enabling a switching from a
currently listened to radio station to said particular one of said
radio stations from which said predetermined song is being
received.
18. The medium as set forth in claim 17 wherein said switching
occurs only if a radio station being currently listened to is not
playing another one of said user's identified favorite songs.
19. The medium as set forth in claim 10 wherein said program
signals are further operable for: enabling a user to create a
playlist of said user's favorite songs; and displaying said
playlist on a display device.
20. A system for processing a plurality of digital data streams,
said digital data streams being derived from transmissions received
from a like plurality of radio stations, said system comprising: a
system bus; a CPU device connected to said system bus; a memory
connected to said system bus; an input device connected to said
system bus, said input device being arranged to enable user input
to said system; a user display device connected to said system bus;
an audio output device; means arranged for receiving said digital
data streams by a processing circuit and playing a selected one of
said digital data streams on said audio output device; means for
determining when one or more of said digital data streams contains
a predetermined data sequence, said predetermined data sequence
being representative of the playing of a particular song on one of
said radio stations; and means for producing an alert signal upon
said determining, said alert signal being operable to provide at
least one perceptible indicium to a user that said predetermined
song is being received by said receiver.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Subject matter disclosed and not claimed herein is disclosed
and claimed in related co-pending application, Attorney Docket
AUS920040656US1, which is assigned to the assignee of the present
application and included herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to information
processing systems and more particularly to a system and
methodology for processing received digital audio and/or video
signals.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] In the rapidly changing world of telecommunications and
electronics in general, the concepts of radio that exist today are
not much different from those in existence in the early part of the
twentieth century. Despite the advent of physical media which
enable a user to carry the music to which the user wishes to
listen, the concept of radio still exists in a format offering
users very few user options. Although a user may choose a station
or several stations which may be preferred by the user, there are
no current options which enable users to listen to preferred music
selections, for example, at the user's convenience rather than on
the timetables provided by the local broadcasters.
[0004] Moreover, it is oftentimes frustrating for a user to switch
among radio stations in an effort to find a music selection
preferred by the user. Many times, when a user finally does find a
music selection or song that the user prefers, the song may be
ending and the user may have to initiate the station scanning
process all over again. This is not only frustrating to the user
but also distracting and even dangerous when the user is operating
a motor vehicle at the same time.
[0005] Thus, there is a need for an improved digital processing
system which provides a greater degree of control by users of radio
and other broadcast signal content.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] A method and system are provided in which a user is enabled
to create a preferred playlist of the user's favorite songs or
types of video presentations. An input device allows the user to
add and/or delete items from the favorites list. In an exemplary
video application, a user is enabled to indicate by using a digital
video recorder, a specific type of broadcast such as "Sports" or
"Basketball". In an exemplary radio application, the user is enable
to list songs on the preferred playlist. Video signals or songs
playing on several channels or stations are monitored and when a
listed video type or song from the user's favorites list begins to
play on a station other than the station to which the user is
currently tuned, an audio and/or visual signal is provided to alert
the user, and the user may change channels or stations manually or
tune to the new station automatically. In one embodiment, the user
alert and/or automatic changing of stations is accomplished only if
the video type or song being played on the channel or station
currently being listened to is not on the user's favorites list. In
one example, the user is enabled to add video types or songs to the
favorites list by pressing an "ADD" button at any time while a type
of video or a favorite song is being played. Thereafter, when the
selected video type or song is again played, the user is alerted to
change channels or tune the appropriate station to watch the
selected video type or listen to the selected song. The user is
also enabled to delete video types and/or songs from the favorites
list by entering an edit mode to present the favorites list on a
display associated with the television or radio, highlighting or
otherwise indicating a video type or song which the user wishes to
delete and pressing a delete button. The ADD and DELETE functions
may also be implemented through the use of an embedded voice
processing system in which case the user need only speak an
appropriate command such as "Add", "Delete" or "Change
Station".
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] A better understanding of the present invention can be
obtained when the following detailed description of a preferred
embodiment is considered in conjunction with the following
drawings, in which:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a receiving device implemented
in accordance with the present invention;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a compare function
implemented in accordance with the present invention;
[0010] FIG. 3 is an illustration of one embodiment of a display
unit used in connection with the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 4 is an illustration of another embodiment of a display
unit which may be used in connection with the present
invention;
[0012] FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing an exemplary operational
sequence using the present invention; and
[0013] FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary operational
sequence for a delete function as may be used with the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0014] Relatively recent developments in Radio Data System (RDS)
and Radio Broadcast Data System (RBDS) technologies have resulted
in widespread implementation of improved digital processing systems
for radio transmission systems. With RDS, identification
information concerning a song currently being played on a radio for
example, is available from the broadcast information for other
uses. For example, the name of the song, the artist, the album and
other related information may be decoded from a received radio
transmission and made available for additional processing. Although
the present disclosure is made with regard to an RDS radio system,
it is understood that the principles contained herein also have
application to video signal processing methodologies, and may be
used in connection with digital video receivers and recorders as
well, in processing various types and titles of digital video
signal streams.
[0015] It is noted that circuits and devices which are shown in
block form in the drawings are generally known to those skilled in
the art, and are not specified to any greater extent than that
considered necessary as illustrated, for the understanding and
appreciation of the underlying concepts of the present invention
and in order not to obfuscate or distract from the teachings of the
present invention.
[0016] With reference to FIG. 1, the various methods discussed
herein may be implemented within a receiving device 100 which
illustrates only one of many possible exemplary embodiments of the
present invention. The receiving device 100 includes a receiver
unit 101 which is arranged to receive broadcast signals through an
antenna 102. The radio receiver unit 101 receives signals from the
antenna 102 and converts those signals into a plurality of digital
data streams 105 of information S1-S(n). Received signals may
include, for example, amplitude modulated (AM), frequency modulated
(FM) and/or citizen's band (CB) signals, inter alia. Analog signals
are converted into digital streams through analog-to-digital
converters (not shown) within the radio receiver unit 101. As
hereinafter discussed in greater detail, a digital data stream is
generated for each station that has been tuned-in or selected by a
user of the receiver unit 101. If no stations have been
pre-selected by a user, the receiver 101 provides data streams for
each of a predetermined number of the strongest stations received
by the receiver 101. In the present example, where no stations have
been pre-selected by a user, the radio receiver 101 will digitize
and provide data streams for the five strongest stations being
received. It is understood that the exact number of default
stations may be any number depending upon the application and the
number of stations being received in the geographical area.
[0017] The station digitized data streams are applied to processing
circuitry 103 which includes one or more CPUs 107, a memory unit
109, storage 111, a network interface 113 and voice processing
circuitry 115. The memory unit 109 is used for selectively storing
favorite songs and listings. The voice processing circuitry 115
enables synthesized voiced announcements to be made and also
enables direct user input through voiced commands. Voiced inputs as
well as push-button inputs are processed through a user input or
interface unit 117. All of the functional blocks within the
processing circuitry 103 are connected together by a common system
bus. The system is designed to enable a user, inter alia, to input
the name or title of a favorite song using a voiced input to the
voice processing module 115. The voiced-in title will then be
inserted into a favorites listing such that the system will
subsequently search for the input title from song header
information transmitted from the tuned radio stations.
[0018] Outputs from the processing circuitry 103 are provided to a
display module 119, and also as played station audio output to a
speaker system 121 of an audio player. The display device 119 may
comprise, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD) which is
viewable by a user in a motor vehicle. Outputs from the processing
circuitry are also provided to an audio alert system 123, which, in
response to signals provided from the processing circuitry 103, is
enabled to alert a user to various conditions by sounding alarms
and/or synthesized voice announcements. Other alarms including
visual alarms (i.e. flashing or blinking text) are also enabled to
effect and modify visual presentations or screens on the display
module 119.
[0019] As shown in FIG. 2, in one example, audio data streams
S1-S(n) are applied to a First-In First-Out (FIFO) memory and
station selection control unit 201. The FIFO memory is designed to
capture and shift data streams of a length, i.e. "T", which
corresponds to the length of a typical audio stream for most
popular songs. When a song is queued for playing by a tuned
station, header information containing the song title and other
related information is detected 203 and the header information is
switched by a switching device 205 to a header information buffer
207 where it is accessed and compared in a look-up and compare
circuit 209 to a favorites list containing a listing of a user's
favorite songs. When a match is detected, alert signals are sent to
alert a user that one of the user's favorite songs is currently
being played on a given station. Subsequently, when a user switches
from another station in order to hear a favorite song, the
beginning of the song is referenced to begin playing from the
appropriate FIFO memory unit. Each of the predetermined tuned radio
stations provides a digital data stream and each data stream is
applied to a different channel in a FIFO memory and selection
control unit 201. As shown, a user may select which station is to
be played and the data stream from the selected station is output
to an audio player 202.
[0020] In FIG. 3, there is shown a display screen arrangement 301
which is positioned to be viewable by a user (i.e. driver or
passenger) within a motor vehicle for example. As shown, the
display screen arrangement 301 includes a display area 303 to
display the station to which the radio receiver is tuned at any
given time. Another section 304 of the display area includes a
"favorite song" area 305 which indicates when one or more of a
user's favorite songs are playing on one of the tuned stations 307.
When more than one of the user's favorite songs are playing at the
same time, all of songs that are currently playing will be
indicated 308 along with the respective stations 310. Songs that
have been previously recorded or saved to memory may also be
selected and played by a user and the display area 304 will
identify which song is currently being played.
[0021] In another display area section 312, there is shown a
Favorites List 311 which displays an assigned reference number 313
for each favorite song of the user together with the corresponding
song title 315 and singer 317. There is also a column to indicate
whether or not a particular song on the favorites list has already
been recorded 320. Those songs that have been recorded may be
selected, highlighted and played from memory by the user by hitting
a Play button 323. Songs on the favorites list which have been
identified and input to the favorites list by the user (for example
by a voiced input) cannot be played from memory until a user has
recorded the playing of that song from a tuned station. However, a
user may have an unrecorded favorite played by actuating the Add
button 319 when an alert signal indicates that the favorite is
being played on a tuned station as is hereinafter explained in
greater detail.
[0022] In another section 322, a user is enabled to select songs
from the Favorites List 311, e.g. Song B, for playing and/or
deletion. A user is enabled to move from song to song on the
Favorites List 311 by manipulating the Select Button 321 which will
highlight 318 the particular song selection on the display screen.
The user is then enabled to either play a selected recorded song by
actuating the Play Button 323 or delete the selected recorded song
by actuating a Delete Button 325. The various buttons are shown in
differing shapes in order to facilitate the selection of the
correct button by a user driving a motor vehicle without requiring
the user to look at the button itself. In another exemplary
implementation, the various buttons are positioned on the side of
the steering wheel for easy access.
[0023] The "Add Current Song" feature enables a user, for example a
driver of a motor vehicle, to hit only one button, i.e. the "Add
Current Song" (ADD) Button 319, in order to have a song currently
being received by the receiver 101 on any of the tuned stations, to
be marked and entered on the "Favorites List" 311 and optionally
recorded from the FIFO memory 201 to non-volatile (NV) memory
and/or storage for later retrieval and playing at the user's
convenience. When a user hears a song on the station currently
being listened to and the user wishes to record the current song,
all the user has to do is hit the ADD button 319. If a favorite
song is being played on another station, then an alert signal, i.e.
blinking or steady light 309 will be activated to show that a
favorite 305 is playing and on which station 307. An audio alert
signal may also be concurrently sounded in order to get the user's
attention. The user may then manually switch to the indicated
station at which time the alert signals will be turned off. Light
309 and/or indicator 307 may also serve a dual function as a push
button switch in order to facilitate switching stations and insure
that the correct station is switched to without requiring the user
to manually search for the correct station as displayed 307. The
unit may also be programmed to automatically switch stations when a
favorite is playing on another station. The processing may also
include a check on the currently playing song before switching so
that the player will not switch to a new station if a favorite is
already playing on the current station. The "ADD", "DELETE" and
other functions may also be implemented through the use of an
embedded voice processing system in which case the user need only
speak an appropriate command such as, but not limited to, "Add", or
"Delete" or "Switch".
[0024] FIG. 4 shows a simplified alternate layout of a display
arrangement 400 in which typical radio selection push buttons 401,
403, 405, 407 and 409 are arranged to correspond to tuned radio
stations A, B, C, D and E which are shown on display area 412. In
FIG. 4, each radio station has a corresponding alert light
indicator 402, 404, 406, 408 and 410 which is designed to light up
when a favorite song is playing on the corresponding station. The
function of the alert light indicators 402-410 are the same as
alert indicator 309 in FIG. 3. FIG. 4 also shows a simplified
operational panel section for adding 419, selecting 421 and
deleting 423 songs from a displayed favorites playlist 411.
[0025] As shown in the flow chart of FIG. 5, in a typical operation
when the system is initiated, a memory check 501 is first made in
order to insure that there is sufficient memory available to store
a favorite song if one is played while a user is listening to the
radio input audio player. This memory check precludes the
possibility that a user will be alerted that a favorite song is
being played but there is not sufficient memory to record it. Next,
if sufficient memory is available 503, then the data streams from
the tuned stations are monitored and compared 511 with the
favorites list to look for a "match". If there is not sufficient
memory 503 to store a favorite song if a favorite song happens to
be detected, then an appropriate message is displayed and announced
via synthesized voice message 505, and an option 507 is given to
the user to execute a delete function 509 to delete a selected
favorite and make memory space available for a new favorite song
before beginning to monitor the tuned stations 511.
[0026] Next, when a match occurs 513 between a song on the
favorites list and a song playing on one of the tuned radio
stations, the currently playing status is announced 515 to a user
by an alert signal. If the user chooses to have the favorite song
played 517 on the audio player, then the radio channel is switched
519 to the station which is playing the favorite song and the
favorite song is played. When the favorite song has completed
playing 521, the processing continues from the memory check block
501.
[0027] In another example, the user is enabled to actuate a "record
only" button (not shown) so that when the playing of a favorite
song is detected on another station, the system records the
favorite song from the other station "in the background" but does
not change the station that is currently being listened to by the
user. Further enhancements include the ability to set degrees of
preferences for favorite songs such that one song or a group of
preferred songs will be displayed in one color and/or more
prominently, while other less preferred songs would be displayed
less prominently and/or in a different color. In this example, when
preferred songs are played on another station, the system
automatically switches stations but when less preferred songs are
detected as being played, only a visual and/or audio indication or
alert is given and the user has the option to manually switch to
the new station at that time.
[0028] FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary operational sequence which
occurs during a Delete function. As shown, when a delete function
is selected 601 by a user pushing the delete button 325, the
selected favorite song on the play list is highlighted, for
example, by blinking text 603 to identify the song to be deleted.
If the highlighted song is the one intended to be deleted by the
user, the user will confirm 605 the delete function by, for
example, hitting the delete button 325 a second time. If the wrong
song is highlighted for deletion, the user may select another
function 607. For example, the user may hit the select button 321
to move up or down on the favorites list and that operation 609
will cancel the pending but unconfirmed deletion operation. The
user may also choose the Add 319 or Play 323 buttons to effect a
cancellation of the pending but unconfirmed delete function. If
after hitting the Delete button one time, no further action is
taken for a predetermined period of time 615, the Delete function
will also be canceled and the process will end. If the Delete
function is confirmed by the user by hitting the Delete button, for
example, for a second time, then the highlighted song will be
deleted 611 and the memory that was taken by the deleted song will
again be made available 613.
[0029] The processing herein disclosed may be implemented in many
forms and combinations of hardware and software. The following
illustrates an exemplary high level source code listing which may
be used to alert a driver when a favorite song is playing.
TABLE-US-00001 blnFavoriteSongPlaying=false while (true) { 1. Get
RDS info for currently playing radio station. 2. Look up song title
in favorite songs list. If present, blnFavoriteSongPlaying=true,
else blnFavoriteSongPlaying=false. 3. For each preset station in
preset stations list 3a. Get RDS info for currently playing song.
(The car would have a separate tuner for this purpose so as not to
interfere with the currently playing song). 3b. Look up song title
in favorite songs list. 3c. If title exists in favorite songs list
3c1. If (blnFavoriteSongPlaying) 3c1a. Update timestamp for entry
in favorite songs list with current time. 3c2. Else 3c2a. Retrieve
timestamp for entry in favorite songs list. 3c2b. If
(timestamp!=null&&(current time-timestamp)>30 seconds)
3c2b1. Clear timestamp for entry in favorite songs list. 3c2b2.
Turn off display for flashing light above preset station, if it was
currently on. 3c2c. Else 3c2c1. Display flashing light above preset
station that has been currently cycled to in order to alert the
driver that a favorite song is playing on a different station.
}
[0030] In an exemplary video application, a user in a home
environment is enabled to indicate by using a digital video
recorder and menu driven inputs, a specific type of broadcast such
as "Sports" or "Basketball", and a processing methodology as
described above would alert the user when a preferred type of video
broadcast is being played on a channel other than the channel
currently being watched by the user. Similar processing
methodologies are applied to enable the user to add or switch to a
channel where a preferred type of video presentation is being
presented.
[0031] The method and apparatus of the present invention has been
described in connection with a preferred embodiment as disclosed
herein. The disclosed methodology may be implemented in a wide
range of sequences, menus and screen designs to accomplish the
desired results as herein illustrated. Although an embodiment of
the present invention has been shown and described in detail
herein, along with certain variants thereof, many other varied
embodiments that incorporate the teachings of the invention may be
easily constructed by those skilled in the art, and even included
or integrated into a processor or CPU or other larger system
integrated circuit or chip. The disclosed methodology may also be
implemented solely or partially in program code stored on a CD,
disk or diskette (portable or fixed), or other memory device, from
which it may be loaded into memory and executed to achieve the
beneficial results as described herein. Accordingly, the present
invention is not intended to be limited to the specific form set
forth herein, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such
alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, as can be reasonably
included within the spirit and scope of the invention.
* * * * *